Brock band, like everything else, finding a successful beat

Corey Daniel arrived at Brock three years ago as band director. Surrounded by and supporting athletic programs that compete and win with regularity, it only made sense that the band do the same.

And while no one is comparing them to the legendary success of the school's renowned basketball program just yet, they are enjoying the fruits of their labor.

While Brock has had a band for more than a decade, prior to Daniel's arrival they never entered University Interscholastic League competition.

Now they have, and, well, being Brock, it should come as no surprise that they did well. Both the high school and middle school concert bands received First Division ratings at both Concert and Sight-Reading contests, a feat accomplished by only two other programs in the region.

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"This was our second year ever to attend Concert and Sight-Reading contest," said Daniel, a Pineville, Louisiana native with a masters degree from Stephen F. Austin University. "Our first year we fell just short of First Divisions by receiving Second Divisions. We were very proud of our Second Divisions for our first year ever."

Marching competition was recently held. Brock received a 2 overall rating in the UIL regional competition in mid-October. Last year they received a 3 overall.

"So we are slowly improving," Daniel said. "We are currently preparing for District Honor and All-Region auditions. We are always preparing for the next competition."

A measure of success for any program is how many students participate. Under Daniel, membership growth in the Brock band has been good. They currently have 55 beginning band students, 30 middle school students and 31 in the high school band.

"Upon my arrival in Brock, the growth was minimal but now we are seeing a growth in numbers. It is a process," Daniel said.

"Corey is doing an outstanding job building our band program from the bottom up," said Brock superintendent Scott Drillette. "He is very competitive and wants his kids to compete and perform at the highest level every time they take the field or stage.

"I’m proud of what our band program has accomplished since he’s been here, and I know that they will continue to develop and improve in the years ahead."

And, as of last year, the school has a marching band. They march at halftime for one of the state's best Class 3A programs, the Eagles.

"Our band students absolutely love performing at football games and for fans," said Daniel. "It is the highlight of each week for them."

Daniel said prior to his arrival, one student from Brock opted to major in music in college. He's hoping to help that number rise in the coming years.

"We have a few seniors this year considering majoring in music. No scholarships thus far. We hope to change that," he said.

And, like any successful high school program, it feeds off a strong junior high program.

"That's why we are so excited, because of our junior high students," he said. "They show so much promise and enthusiasm for the future of the Mighty Eagle Band program. They are the future."

Speaking of the future, Daniel plans to keep doing more of what has worked since his arrival.

"My goal is to grow the numbers, give our students world-class instruction, and to perform at the highest level every time we compete," he said.

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